Anrainer-Protest: Wiener Event Arena added to Gegenwind

A new large multi-purpose hall will be built in Vienna by 2030. The “Vienna Holding Arena” is located in St. Petersburg in the Landstraße district. It will be built where Marx is located, in an area that is not yet developed. Prehistory was already marked by delays. The future operator, German entertainment group CTS Eventim, only stepped in after the court decision. There is also local resistance now. A local initiative is protesting the project.

The event center is designed for up to 20,000 visitors. The arena is intended to host all kinds of shows and events, such as major rock and pop concerts or sports competitions and trade fairs. The building needs to be able to host approximately 145 events per year.

The major construction is taking place on a site next to the existing cattle pen (currently Marx Hall) that has been lying fallow for years. Originally part of the slaughterhouse there, the site had long been reserved for ORF when a new building was being considered. As announced in 2019, the new event hall was also supposed to be built here. At that time, the opening was expected to be held in 2024. However, this did not happen.

Because, after the objection, the Vienna Administrative Court declared that the decision that was initially considered to be given was invalid. It was canceled due to “official legal reasons”. It was recently announced that CTS Eventim will build or operate the hall.

However, some neighbors oppose the project. As stated in a message, the “St. Marx for All” initiative plans to demonstrate against it this Friday in front of the office of the responsible Vienna Holding. A letter to the city government makes it clear that they gave little thought to the hall project. Instead they want to discuss other usage concepts. “As an enterprise, we are committed to preserving open space and the temporary uses and cultural associations found there,” the letter says.

The open space is currently both parkland and sports ground. It is also a place where social activities take place and therefore a place of encounter. Activists point out that only a few urban areas have such quality. “Regarding future challenges, this area can be seen as a free experimental field of urban planning.” They complain that construction will miss a great opportunity.

Vienna Holding now relies on negotiations, as emphasized at the request of the APA. In principle, the various intermediate uses are very favorably received and it is desirable to continue them for as long as possible. Additionally, a corresponding lead time should be planned for the relocation of intermediate uses. “We will proceed carefully here,” they promised.

However, the term temporary usage implies that it is temporary. “With the start of construction or the start of arena preparations, these temporary uses will also need to be removed,” the statement said. This was known from the beginning to those affected. “All uses are therefore designed to be legally insecure with relevant notice periods.”

Vienna Holding emphasizes that appropriate negotiations with temporary users will be initiated in the coming weeks. They were assured that the city would also support them in finding new places.

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